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Rain delays but doesn't deter speedboat racing on St. Johns River

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--Avondale residents Maggie and Forrest DeWitt make their own shelter during the rainstorm that delayed racing Sunday afternoon at Memorial Park. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--FlyBoard performer Nellie Kubalek from Orlando puts on a show between races Sunday afternoon. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--FlyBoard performer Nellie Kubalek from Orlando puts on a show between races Sunday afternoon. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--FlyBoard performer Nellie Kubalek from Orlando puts on a show between races Sunday afternoon. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--Spectators watch the activity on the floating dock at Memorial Park Sunday afternoon. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--The Southeastern Lighting Solutions boat piloted by (left) Jason Morton from Morehead City, NC and Walt Cox from Daytona Beach take the checkered flag to the floating dock at Memorial Park after winning the final P1 Superstock race of the day. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--Racers in the final P1 Superstock heat of the day bunch up as they make the turn in front of Memorial Park during Sunday's race. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--6/8/14--Racers make their way to the floating dock at Memorial Park ahead of the P1 Aquax race Sunday afternoon. The Grand Prix of the Sea wrapped up their racing in the waters of the St. Johns River off Memorial Park Sunday, June 8, 2014 with P1 Powerboat racing and Aqua Cross racing on Jet Skis. The down time was filled with exhibits and Flyboard demonstrations. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

A passing thunderstorm delayed the Jacksonville Grand Prix of the Sea for about an hour Sunday afternoon but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of spectators who came to see the SuperStock speedboats and AquaX watercraft races on the St. Johns River in Riverside.

Joanne and Jim Caraway of Orange Park were among about the crowd of about 300 people lining the seawall at Memorial Park about noon to watch the final day of racing, which began Saturday.

The free event was the first time in 30 years there has been powerboat racing on the St. Johns River. It also featured food trucks and a band.

“It’s nice to see the boats use the river again. It showcases the river …,” said Caraway, who grew up near the Ortega River bridge and remembered when boat races were a regular event on the St. Johns.

The SuperStock speedboats raced about 1,000 feet off the park south of the Fuller Warren Bridge. Propelled by a 250-horsepower Evinrude outboard, the sleek vessels are capable of speeds up to 70 mph. The AquaX races featured personal watercraft in races split into categories for 200, 250 and 300 horsepower.

“I want to be like her,” said RayChelle Mooney, 6, as she and her mother, Karolynne Weller of Jacksonville, watched professional flyboarder Nellie Kubalek of Full Throttle Flyboard in Orlando perform somersaults and other gravity-defying maneuvers on the river between races.

“Maybe, when you’re older. Way older and have your own insurance,” Weller replied with a chuckle.

Flyboarding is relatively new sport. A flyboard is like a water-propelled jet pack attached by a long hose to a personal watercraft.

Standing on a board connected by the hose to the watercraft, the flyboard rider wears a pair of boots with jet nozzles on the bottom. Water is forced under pressure to the boots, lifting the rider up into the air above the water.

The city of Jacksonville worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute to help ensure no marine animals were harmed during the races. The St. Johns Riverkeeper also was on hand.

The races will be broadcast internationally on Fox Sports International as well as the Sky Sports Network, Mayor Alvin Brown has said, noting the event was an opportunity to showcase Jacksonville to the world.